National Right to Life Alarmed as Federal Funding for the Abortion Industry Resumes

WASHINGTON — As the one-year prohibition on certain federal Medicaid payments to abortion providers expires on July 4, National Right to Life expressed deep concern that taxpayer dollars will once again be available to subsidize organizations whose business depends on abortion, including Planned Parenthood, the nation's largest abortion provider.

"The resumption of taxpayer funding for the abortion industry is alarming," said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. "For decades, Americans have objected to being forced to subsidize organizations that profit from abortion. Taxpayer dollars should support health care providers that respect the lives of both mothers and their unborn children—not organizations whose business model depends upon ending innocent human lives."

The temporary prohibition demonstrated that Congress has the authority to prevent taxpayer dollars from flowing to the abortion industry. National Right to Life called on lawmakers to continue working toward permanent protections that ensure federal funds are directed to medical providers that offer comprehensive health care without performing or promoting abortion.

"We are grateful to the Administration and to the many pro-life leaders in Congress who fought to prevent taxpayer dollars from subsidizing the abortion industry," Tobias said. "Their efforts produced an important, though temporary, victory for unborn children and taxpayers alike. While federal funding is now set to resume, National Right to Life remains committed to working alongside these leaders to permanently end taxpayer subsidization of abortion providers."

For years, efforts to end taxpayer subsidization of abortion providers have faced unified opposition from pro-abortion members of Congress, who continue to insist that organizations such as Planned Parenthood receive federal support despite their central role in performing and promoting abortion.

"Congress should never force taxpayers to subsidize the abortion industry," Tobias said. "Taxpayer dollars belong in programs that provide life-affirming care for women, children, and families—not in organizations that profit from abortion. National Right to Life will continue working with lawmakers to permanently end taxpayer subsidization of the abortion industry."